Why do iran, pakistan and north korea regularly feature on the international news pages in the world

Iran, Pakistan and North Korea have for quite some years remained at the forefront of international news with varying stories such as rising military forces, prolonged lack of co-operation on nuclear programmes and political corruption. The reason these stories do not remain big national occurrences is due to their relevance to countries worldwide, reinforcing the idea that all news is local.

Pakistan has remained at the forefront of international news particularly due to British interest. Since India was granted independence in 1947 and the modern state of Pakistan was created, the rioting and wars over particular provinces has propelled the country into the international foreground. Guilt for exiting the country so quickly and not constructing a stable political and economical system within Pakistan has left Britain certainly still heavily involved. For years the right to the state of Kashmir has been argued between India and Pakistan resulting in three wars, which have been extensively covered by the media.

Furthermore the UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a group of peacekeepers in the area of Kashmir since 1949. Therefore monitoring political tensions through the means of media is of particular importance to the wide number of countries involved, especially after the development of the 2004 cease fire agreement which still currently remains. Even today a publication like, The Guardian have a section online dedicated entirely to the developments and disturbances in Kashmir and is updated regularly[1]. Moreover with manpower of approximately 82 million available for military service[2], almost four times the amount in British forces, and the heavy influence of the military within the country, places any developments onto the forefront of international news.

North Korea's overwhelming military displays have caused concern also and for this reason have become big international news. The major party the Korean Workers' Party (KWP), headed by Kim Jong Il, has attracted large amounts of attention due to its communist workings. Communism is a major concern for all leading countries due to its history of suppression, bloodshed and fear mongering. With major events such as the cold war and political uprisings in Cuba being centred on the issue of communism, the need for North Korea's activities to be international news is a way of monitoring the temperament of the country. It is also an international concern that regimes may go to far, such as the case in Iraq, and that humanitarian aid is needed. North Korea already suffers from chronic food shortages and needs international aid, but its political system seems heavily corrupted with other parties, such as Social Democratic Party and the Chondoist Chongu Party, are actually still being controlled by the KWP. What's more, North Korea's determination to perform "militaristic displays and fights against the Americans" causes concern for the United States but also for its allies.

Moreover, North Korea since its creation has kept its countries activities as much as it can out of the international eye. On the BBC News website it is titled "North Korea: Secretive state"[3] and its photographic articles are rare but insightful. This secretive state paired with suspicious nuclear expansion has led to the want for more and more coverage, despite this being illegal. With stories such as the two American journalists who were detained, but later pardoned by Kim Jong IL, in North Korea earlier this year creating tension, the media attention becomes even more intense.[4]

Nuclear developments and peace talks litter the headlines of international news, due to its high importance. Every country needs to know the development of such issues, who is testing and who is signing agreements. Therefore Iran's continuous refusal to follow UN sanctions places it immediately into the foreground of international news. Iran has five known nuclear sites, one of which was discovered in Qom only in September of this year (2009)[5], and despite its refusal that the sites are for military purposes, internationally it is feared that Iran cannot be subdued by political sanctions. Talks between Iran and the EU, America and the UN do not go unreported due to the high intensity of the issue. However when Iran seemingly makes progress, such as the Iranian-American talk held in Geneva (October 2009) which the US State Department deputy spokesman Robert Wood described as "Significant"[6], It is only just after another outburst such as the early nuclear weapons testing in September of this year.[7] Even after talks Iran has begun another five days of military testing.[8]

Iran is also featured heavily in international news since 2002 when George W. Bush, then US President, declared Iran as part of an "axis of evil" and designated the country a state sponsor of terrorism for its activities in Lebanon and elsewhere in the world. Due to this sanctioning it has decreased the amount of international economic aid Iran can receive until it co-operates. This is very sensitive due to the countries only reliance being on revenue generated from the oil sector. Due to economic activity being controlled by the state the use of price control, subsidies and other rigidities stifle private sector led growth leading to further corruption and shortage of goods. This means Iran is prepared to seem like it is co-operating by allowing the International Atomic Energy Agency, part of the UN, to investigate nuclear sites but it will still test and develop weapons.

North Korea also has caused controversy with its weapons development. In March earlier this year it set to test a long range missile which was feared to be for an intercontinental ballistic missile and the story was immediately covered worldwide.[9] Many believe that North Korea is developing weapons to build up a nuclear arsenal for deterrence of countries such as China and America. However some in the media see North Korea's actions on the international stage as a means to open talks which could lead to more financial aid for the country. The huge economic mismanagement and resource misallocation created by the government has left the country depending heavily on international aid to feed people. Industrial capital stock is nearly beyond repair as a result of underinvestment. Large military spending draws off resources needed for investment and civilian consumption. Since 2002 the government has allowed private "farmers' markets" to sell a wider range of food. In 2005 North Korea terminated any international aid and implemented centralised food rationing system but in 2008 Korea had to again accept taking 500,000 tonnes food shipments from US.

Website Bibliography:

Al Jazeera: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/middleeast/ [accessed 20.11.09]

BBC News: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ [accessed 20.11.09]

CIA: https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

[accessed 20.11.09]

Fox News: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/29/gates-prepared-respond-north-korea-missile-launch/ [accessed 20.11.09]

Global Security: http://www.globalsecurity.org/wmd/world/dprk/nuke.htm [accessed 20.11.09]

The Guardian: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/kashmir [accessed 20.11.09]

Kasmir Times: http://www.kashmirtimes.com/ [accessed 20.11.09]

MSNBC: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33041226/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

[accessed 20.11.09]

The NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/ [accessed 20.11.09]

Reuters: http://www.reuters.com/ [accessed 20.11.09]

UN: http://www.un.org/ [accessed 20.11.09]

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[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/kashmir

[2] https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/index.html

[3] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/asia_pacific/2006/north_korea/default.stm

[4] http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/world/asia/08north.html

[5] http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE5AG41520091117

[6] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8284360.stm

[7] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33041226/ns/world_news-mideastn_africa/

[8] http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/middle_east/8372985.stm

[9] http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2009/03/29/gates-prepared-respond-north-korea-missile-launch/